Industrial truck



E. J. DUNHAM EIAL Oct. 17, 1944.

INDUS TRIAL TRUC K Filed July 10, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct 17, 1944- v E. J. DUNHAM ETAL 2,350,407

INVENTORJ: Elmer zffizmbam Oct. 17, 1944. E. J. DUNHAM ETAL INDUSTRIAL TRUCK '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 10, 1945 Oct. 17, 1944. E. J. DUNHAM EIAL INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed July 10, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 \w a. N

Oct. 17, 1944. J. DUNHAM m- 2,360,407

INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed July 10, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TORS [TY/226x" Jfimbam L I/145e, Fyq/v BAG/(OPEN Patented Oct. 17, 1944 INDUSTRIAL TRUCK d Elmer Ryan Backofen, assignors to Clark Equip- Elmer J. Dunham an Battle Creek, Mich.,

ment Company, Buchanan,

tion of Michigan Mich., a corpora- Application July 10, 1943, Serial No. 494,440

19 Claims.

This invention relates to industrial truck, and more particularly is concerned with an improvement in such trucks providing for lateral shifting of the load carrying forks or fingers at the forward end of the truck.

In general, the present invention is applicable to industrial trucks of the type shown in the patent to E. J. Dunham 2,256,314 issued September 16, 1941. Such trucks are normally provided at their forward'ends with a pair of vertically extending uprights or channel having suitable telescoping means, and hydraulic controls for raising and lowering a load supporting carriage mounted for vertical movement Within the uprights. The load supporting carriage includes a vertical supporting plate upon which are mounted forwardly projecting load fingers adapted to be moved under a load to receive the same thereon, and then raised in position for transporting the load or for tiering or storing the same in warehouses or the like.

The present invention contemplates providing in such an industrial truck means whereby the finger supporting plate can be shifted laterally of the truck to accommodate picking up loads in narrow or confined spaces where the truck cannot maneuver into position to receive the load directly in line with the longitudinal axis of the truck. Under such circumstances the present invention provides means whereby the carriage can be shifted laterally in either direction to pick up an oiT-set load, the carriage then being returned to normal position in line with the lonof the truck for transporting the be understood, of course, that the same lateral movement can be effected when it is desired to discharge the load in an oif-set position with respect to the axis of the truck.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a secondary plate on a load lateral movement and which is controlled by means of hydraulic actuated chains and sprockets to be shifted laterally in either direction relative to the uprights. g

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a simplified construction which can be readily adapted to present type trucks without lateral shifting of the forward plate and fingers assembly of the load receiving carriage.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to those killed in the art the particular construction and operation of a preferred form of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figures 1-A and 1-B comprise a side elevational view of the upright assembly embodying the present invention.

Figures 2A and 2-3 comprise a front elevational view, partly diagrammatic, of the upright construction shown in Figures 1-A and 31-3.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the uprights and load supporting mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a detailed view showing the mounting of the lateral shift plate on the load supporting carriage.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view draulic circuit for mechanism.

Figure 6 is a. side elevational view, partly diagrammatic, of a modified form of the invention, and

Figure 7 is a rear elevational view, partly in section, on line of Figure 6.

in detail to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the uprights which form the guide means for of the hyactuating the lateral shifting provided at their ends with plates 6 forming guides for the inner telescoping uprights 1 which have vertical sliding movement within the guiding uprights 5. The uprights 5 adjacent their lower ends are provided with brackets 8 which, as shown in Figure 1-B, are provided with suita cross-member ID of channel shaped section which is securely bolted to the webs of the uprights at their upper ends and extends therebetween at a point spaced slightly rearwardly of the uprights.

Extending vertically between the uprights 5 is hydraulic cylinder I2 which carries a piston 13 having an extending rod connected at its upper end to a cross head member l6 which member 32 which in turn depends is bolted at its ends as indicated at l1 to the upper ends of the inner slides 1. Immediately below the cross head it there is provided a support head l8 which, at its ends, is adapted to carry sprockets l8 over which a suitable chain 28 is trained whereby upon actuation of the hydraulic piston l3 the load supporting carriage is raised and lowered relative to the inner slides 1, whil at the same time the slides 1 are moved vertically within the uprights 8 due to the connection of the cross head therewith. I

Thus far, the construction of the uprights and the telescoping slides is conventional, and the details of this construction are not believed necessary of description. Suffice it to say that mounted within the channel shaped portion of the inner slide 1 is a bracket member 22 carryin rollers 23 spaced vertically within the inner slides 1. The bracket 22 at its forward end has rigidly secured thereto a back plate 24, and the chains 28 which are trained over the sprockets I! are secured rigidly to the bracket so that the bracket 22 and back plate 24 move as a unit vertically within the inner slides 1.

The back plate 24, as shown more in detail in Figure 4, has welded thereto at the upper end a transverse bar 28 forming a spacing member and guide, and at its lower end, as indicated in Figure 1-3, is provided with a second transverse bar 28 for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Mounted for rolling movement laterally of the plate 24 is a front plate 21 which, at its upper end, is provided with spaced block members 28 as shown more in detail in Figure 3. Intermediate the block members 28 28 supported on shafts upper end of the front 30 journalled between the plate 21 and a rear plate downwardl below the upper edge of the back plate 24 as shown in detail in Figure 4, thus forming a channel shaped structure extending over the upper edge of plate 24 and bar 25 to lock the plate 21 against movement relative back plate 24. Three such rollers 28 are provided which carry the weight of the front plate 21 on the upper surface of the back plate 24. The lower end of the front plate 21 is provided with transverse angleshaped brackets 33 bolted or otherwise secured thereto as indicated at 34, which extend upwardly behind the depending bar 28 to provide ahooked type construction preventing separation of the lower end of front plate from back plate 24.

Above the bar 28, the back plate 24 is provided with horizontally disposed rollers 35 mounted on shafts 38 and secured as an assembly unit in openings in the back plate 24 as by means of the brackets 31. This provides rolling action of the lower end of front plate 21 relative to the back plate 24 so that there will be no binding of the plate 21 as it is shifted laterally relative to the plate 24.

The front plate 21 at opposite ends thereof is provided with vertically extending flange members 38 which may be welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto and which form vertically projecting flanges at the side edges of the front plate 21. Extending transversely across the front plate 21 between the flanges 38 is a horizontally projecting plate or strip 88 which intermediate its ends is provided with a depending bracket portion 48 suitably apertured in horizontal alignment with apertures 42 in the end flanges 38. The end flanges 38 provide means for interconnecting the upper portion and lower portion of there is provided rollers 1 the back plate 21, these portions being separated by the space 43 within which projects the rearward extensi n 44 forged or otherwise formed at the upper ends of the fingers 48 whereby the fingers 48 have support upon the upper edge 48 of the lower portion of the back plate 21. The upper ends 44 of the fingers are provided with elongated openings 41 and a suitable rod extends through the aligned apertures 42 and through the openings 41 in the fingers to lock the fingers in position against separating movement, the bar being anchored at its ends in the end flan es 88.

The fingers 48 at the lower ends are provided with forwardly extending portions 48 upon which the load to be supported by the truck is carried. Preferably the fingers are adjustable laterally between the central plate or bracket 48 and the side flanges 38, and for this purpose the transverse strip 38 is provided with openings 48 through which pins may be extended into corresponding openings formed in the upper ends of the head portions 44 of the fingers. These pins serve to lock the fingers against lateral movement along the rod. and thus provide a predetermined spacing of the fingers which can be adjusted, depending upon the load to be carried.

The back plate 24 adjacent its upper ends is provide with horizontal stub shafts 88 upon which are mounted sprockets 82, these sprockets being arranged for rotation about the horizontal shafts and being disposed to the side of and slightly above the points at which the bracket 22 is bolted to the back plate 24.

The uprights 1 adjacent their lower ends are provide with a transverse plate or rod 83 which, as shown in Figures 1-3 and 2-B, extends transversely between the lower ends of uprights 1 and preferably has rearward extensions 83 bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the uprights. This rod 83 outwardly of the uprights 1 15 provided with studs 84 carrying sprockets 88 disposed in the same vertical plane as the sprockets 82.

As will be noted in Figures 2A and 2B, the uprights 1 intermediate their ends are provided with laterally directed bracket portions 88 which are adapted to receive suitable links 82 pivotally connected at their upper ends to brackets 83 of the hydraulic cylinders 84. The links 82 are anchored against movement'as by means of nuts. 88 shown in Figure'1-B to'prevent upward movement thereof out of the brackets 88. The pistons 84 are of similar design and are provided with upwardly extending piston rods 88 having the 5 piston ends-88' thereof disposed within the cylinder 84. The piston rods 88 are connected by means of the chain 81 which is trained over sprockets 88 carried by suitable brackets 88 secured to the upper ends of the upright assembly. From the sprockets 88, the chain extends downwardly to the sprockets 88 carried by the transverse bar 83 at the lower ends of the uprights, the chain being interrupted intermediate its ends by a link 18 which rotates the links in the lower half of the chain at right angles to the links in the. upper half of the chain so that they are in position to be trained over sprockets 88 which rotate in a vertical plane at right angles to the plane of-the sprockets 88.

After being trained about the sprockets 88, the chain is led upwardly as indicated at 12 and is trained over the sprockets 82 carried by the back plate 24. The chain intermediate the sprockets 82 is provided with a connector link 13 which is connected as by means of bracket 14 to the front .which is fixed plate assembly 21. Thus, the two ends 01' the chain are connected to the piston rods '88 and the chain is then continuously trained over Sprockets 68, thence over sprockets 55 and thence over sprockets ir -with the link 13 being connected to the bracket" sothat upon any lateral shiftingof the link 13 and consequently will roll the front plate assembly 21 on the rollers 28 and 35 laterally in one direction or the other thereby shifting the forks 45 laterally of the machine into position to pick up offset loads.

The control system for producing this lateral movement is shown diagrammatically in Figure 5 and consists of a control valve 80 having an intake 82 leading from the pump, and having outlets 83 and 84 respectively. When the valve lever 85 is actuated in one direction, the fluid pressure from the pump is directed through outlet 83 and r 86 into lines 8'! and 88 leading respectively to the lower end of one cylinder 84 and the upper end of operating cylinder 64.

the pistons 66 is moved upwardly valve lever 85 is moved in the opposite direction, fluid under pressure is directed through outlet into conduits 90 and 92 leading to the respective opposite ends of the cylinders 64 which in moving the chain in the opposite direction to provide opposite shifting of the'front plate assembly 21.

us, movement picking up of oifset loads. It is, of course, apparent that other types of control systems might be employed for actuating the piston and cylinders 64.

In Figures 6 and and at its upper end is provided with a bevel edge I 02. The front plate assembly includes laterally spaced fingers I03 mounted on a vertical plate I04 having plate IOI provided with a depending flange portion I05 formed with a rack I06 adapted to be engaged by the segmental gear I01 carried on the shaft I08. The gear I! is rotated by means of a sprocket I09 also carried on the shaft I08 and receiving a chain IIO trained over the sprocket and thence downwardly over sprockets corresponding to sprockets 88.

The shaft I08 extends between a plate II4 to the vertically movable bracket corresponding to the bracket 22 of Figures 1 and 3, and the back plate I00. A second spacing and supporting bracket III extends between plates I00 and H4 adjacent the lower end thereof. Suitabl rollers II are carried in brackets H6 secured to the lower end of the front plate I04 to provide for rolling movement of the front plate I 04 relative the back plate I00. Preferably the plate I04 is provided with grooved pulleys or rollers II1 engaging in the bevel back plate I00, whereby it is guided for lateral movement relative to the plate. A suitable protecting plate I is disposed over the upper edge of the plate II4. It will be apparent that in the bracket "will be.

84 and T 89:

edge I 02 of the mechanism for an industrial truck bility to trucks now in use, and

the sear I01 in opposite lateral shifting of the fork assembly.

It is therefore believed apparent that we have provided a novel type of lateral fork shifting of the class described, which has the advantages of adaptaprovides for picking up ofi'set loads in situations where. be-- cause of narrow aisles or the like, it is impossible to line the truck up longitudinally with the load.

We are aware that various changes may be made in certain details of the present construction, and therefore do not intend to be limited except as defined by thescope and spirit of the appended claims.

y We claim:

1. In a lift truck having end thereof, a load supporting carriage mounted this embodiment of the invention, rotation of for vertical movement in said mast and com .prising aback plate restrained against lateral movement, a front plate having vertically spaced anti-friction means, means mounting it for lateral movement on said back plate, hydraulically controlled means mounted on said mast, and chain means connected between said hydraulic means and said front plate for shifting said front plate laterally upon actuation of said hydraulically controlled means.

necting the lateral portion front plate.

4. The truck of claim 3 further characterized contact between said the same laterally.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein roller means is provided between said plate members for facilitating relative movement therebetween.

opposite directions will cause a vertical mast at one having rollers in the upper end lateral shifting means comprises interengaging rack and pinion means on said plate members.

11. A load supporting carriage for an indus-' trial lifttruck having a vertical mast at one end thereof, comprising means guided for vertical movement insaid mast, a vertical plate rigidly secured to said means, a second plate thereof supporting it on said first plate for lateral movement relative thereto, rollers on said first plate engaging the lower vertical surface of said second plate, interengaging means preventing separation of said plates, load-carrying fingers mounted on and projecting forwardly of said second plate, and means carried by said mast and connected to said second plate for selectively shifting the same laterally in either direction.

12. The carriage of claim 11 wherein said interengaging means comprises guide means carried by said second plate overlying'the upper and lower edges of said first plate.

13. A load supporting carriage for an industrial truck comprising a back plate rigidly guided for vertical movement only, a front plate comprising upper and lower portions spaced apart to form a transverse gap therebetween, end plates secured to the lateral edges of said portions to form a unit construction, means on the upper end of the upper plate portion overhanging the upper edge of said back plate and having rollers engaging said edge to support said front plate for lateral movement relative to said back plate and lift fingers carried by said front plate and having boss portions at the upper ends thereof projecting into said gap and supported on the upper edge of said lower plate portion.

14. The carriage of claim 13 wherein said front plate has means for locking said fingers'in selected laterally spaced positions thereon.

15. In a load-supporting carriage for an industrial truck, a plate construction comprising upper and lower plate portions spaced apart vertically and held in position by side members secured to the lateral edges of both portions, and angleshaped lift fingers having head portions projecting into the transverse gap between said plate portions and supported on the upper edge of the lower plate portion.

16. The combination of upper plate portion locking said fingers positions.

1'7. The combination of claim 15 wherein said plate construction has means locking said fingers against lateral shifting movement relative thereto.

18. In an industrial truck having a vertical mast at one end thereof provided with a load supporting carriage adapted to traverse said mast, a plate carried by said carriage and supported thereon for lateral shifting movement, load carrying fingers supported on said plate, hydraulicmeans including pistons mounted on opposite sides of said mast, and a chain member claim 15 wherein said in selected laterally spaced connected at its ends to said pistons and having an intermediate portion anchored to said plate whereby selective actuation of said pistons causes said chain member to shift said plate laterally relative to said carriage.

19. In an industrial truck having a vertical mast at one end thereof provided with a load supporting carriage adapted to traverse said mast. a front plate comprising upper and lower portions spaced apart to form a transverse gap therebetween, end plates secured to the lateral edges of said portions to form a unitary plate construction, a transversely extending rod supported at its ends by said end plates in line with the gap in said front plate, fingers carried on said rod and having bosses. at the upper ends thereof projecting into said gap and supported on the upper edge of said lower plate, and means mounting said front plate assembly for lateral shifting movement on said carriage.

ELMER J. DUNHAM. E. RYAN BACKOFEN.

is provided with means for, 

